You made me chuckle with that story, Neil. I liked your interweaving of contemporary research into AI and the biological underpinnings of conscious awareness with fiction and humour (btw did you realise that what you get if you multiply six by nine really is 42 if you’re working in base 13?)
It’s good to hear you’re planning an absurdist year – that should make you ideally qualified to write on current affairs…

I always loved Douglas Adams’ answer, 42. Because it truly makes the point that when we ask what is the meaning of life, we don’t really know what we mean by asking the question.
Skillful, absurdly written and a fun start to the new year Neil

I like that s/he wants to know what it’s like to be a Martian. I’d like to know that, too. I wonder why no one asked the MC back what it’s like to be him/herself. We are unique. And thus alone. But there’s 42, that makes things bearable. 🙂